75th anniversary for Capri Theatre in Adelaide

IT’S one of Adelaide’s most remarkable theatres, famous for its Wurlitzer organ. But the Capri is also a perfectly preserved 1970s cinema experience.

Capri Theatre volunteers Di Kiley, Jackson Hoult and Colleen Waterhouse with the Wurlitzer organ, helping the Capri Theatre celebrate its 75th year. Picture: Nick Clayton

• Old Adelaide pubs that we’ve loved and lost
• The amazing Adelaide uni pranks of old
• When Glenelg had its own Luna Park
• How the Royal Adelaide Show used to look

EACH time the lights went down and Paul Hogan came on screen as Crocodile Dundee, the hardworking folks at Goodwood’s Capri Theatre must have rubbed their hands with glee.

It was 1986 and Australia’s cultural cringe saw many larger cinemas snub the comedian’s first movie, expecting it to be an embarrassing flop.

At the elegant Capri Theatre, however, on Goodwood Rd, the film ran all year, as did the tills.

Ross Lange, 72, is a 37-year member and past president of the Theatre Organ Society of Australia (SA), which bought the Capri in 1978.

He says the group has Hoges to thank for paying off the loan. “Crocodile Dundee ran for over a year and that earned us lots and lots of money,” he says.

The Capri in 1941, when it was called the New Goodwood Star.

The Capri Theatre as it looks today. Photo: Nick Clayton

“Nobody wanted it. Lots of theatres thought: ‘We’re not that stupid to take a movie with Paul Hogan in it’.

“The (Capri) theatre was completely booked out every session for weeks and weeks. “That gave us enough money to pay off the bank loan.”

The Capri opened on October 8, 1941, as the New Goodwood Star Theatre.

Since 1978, its art deco/moderne style, featuring curves, circles and semi circles, has been preserved by the Theatre Organ Society, largely through donations and volunteer labour.

The group installed an organ and 13 sets of pipes, with the inaugural Wurlitzer concert in 1983.

It now has 29 sets of pipes and is believed to be the second-largest theatre organ in the southern hemisphere.

The famous Capri Theatre Wurlitzer Organ.

The upper foyer at the Capri Theatre, Goodwood.

The ‘Capri Man’.

While the owners have modernised the audio and projection systems in the theatre, they have continued to preserve and revive its vintage past.

Rejuvenation projects include:

RECARPETING the theatre with the original 1941 design;

RE-UPHOLSTERING all seats;

PAINTING the exterior in the original colours;

RESTORING art deco/moderne designs on auditorium walls;

INSTALLING replica 1941 mirrors, fireplace, round seat, club lounge furniture and wall sconces.

Also in place is a framed Crocodile Dundee movie poster, acknowledging the good fortune the box-office hit brought the Capri, which is run as a not-for-profit venture.

Mr Lange says he plays the theatre organ a little but it was the charm of the Capri’s architecture and decor that lured him in. “I’ve always been interested in older buildings,” he says.

The auditorium in 1941.

And how it looks today.

“I’ve become particularly interested in theatres — art deco in particular.”

The building was added to the register of state heritage items in 1990.

Capri Theatre manager Rob Jordan says future improvements include repainting the exterior of the building and installing solar panels to reduce the theatre’s hefty electricity bills.

“We’re actually doing really well; we’re in a very fortunate position at the moment,” he says.

“The only reason is because we’re volunteer-staffed.”

The snacks bar at the Capri.

The powder room at the New Goodwood Star — now Capri — in 1941.

Mr Jordan says the theatre runs almost entirely on volunteer labour.

Volunteers work in the candy bar, the ticket box, as ushers, bar staff, in finance and perform maintenance and restoration tasks.

“Anything you can think of is done by volunteers,” he says.

“We’ve become so busy we now need to do a recruitment drive.

“A lot of the people who come here come to give back, to feel useful, to use their skills and to feel part of a community.”

Capri volunteers Jackson Hoult, Di Kiley and Colleen Waterhouse. Pic: Nick Clayton

The 75th anniversary will be marked with a nostalgia night, hosted by Anne Wills, on Saturday, October 8.

The main attraction will be the 1941 film Blossoms in the Dust, starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon.

A newsreel, cartoon, trailers and old advertising slides also will be screened.

There will be piano entertainment in the foyer and a licenced bar from 6pm, followed by organ music in the auditorium from 6.45pm and the screening from 7pm.

Book at www.capri.org.au or call 8272-1177.

Originally published as 75th anniversary for Capri Theatre in Adelaide